New Mexico

Ruidoso businesses struggle following fires and floods

Published

1 year ago

August 8, 2024

Ruidoso businesses struggle following fires and floods

After weeks of devastating wildfires and floods in southern New Mexico, residents and business owners are trying to pick up the pieces and move on.

RUIDOSO, N.M. – After weeks of devastating wildfires and floods in southern New Mexico, residents and business owners are trying to pick up the pieces and move on.

It’s a hard task with the monsoon and ridiculously hot temps. It feels like that area just can’t catch a break.

As if all those troubles weren’t enough to overcome, businesses are now struggling to keep their doors open.

KOB 4 spoke with a business about the struggle to get make money. All the businesses we heard from say the same thing, they are open and ready for business. But they need people to come out and support them.

Employees at the Santa Fe Furniture and Gifts in Ruidoso Downs say they’ve noticed fewer tourists coming to town after the fires and the floods.

“It’s been a lot more, more dead. It’s not as many people have been coming through since the fires,” said Time Chavez, a Santa Fe Furniture and Gifts employee. “They’re (other businesses) afraid. Everybody is a little nervous, just kind of disheartened. I guess everybody’s just, they’re not sure on the eighth of town they’re going to pick back up again, or, well, what we’re going to.”

They say it seems like people don’t really know the area is back open, and it’s safe to return. Because of that, their summer season isn’t anywhere near as profitable as years past.

It’s causing business owners to start thinking of ways to save their stores, including cutting back hours.

This whole situation is also spurring some creativity. Since tourists are not shopping, businesses are asking locals to buy “Ruidoso Strong” merchandise.

“He sat down with us to kind of talk about things that we can do to maybe try and bring people in. We brought the ‘Ruidoso Strong’ T-shirts, which have been doing great. Just trying to find things that he’s definitely giving it a go to see if there’s things we can do to help business,” said Marissa Montoya, a Santa Fe Furniture and Gifts employee.

You don’t have to live in or drive down to Ruidoso to help those businesses, you can shop online too.

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New Mexico

Fourth Republican candidate announces bid for New Mexico governor

Published

4 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Fourth Republican candidate announces bid for New Mexico governor

SANTA FE, N.M. — Former New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner Jim Ellison is running for governor as a Republican, he announced on social media Tuesday.

Ellison is running on affordability, opportunity and trust in government as the key points of his campaign. His experience includes serving on the NMPRC in 2023 and 2024.

“New Mexico deserves leadership that listens, acts, and delivers results. Our state has enormous potential, but too often that potential is held back by policies that don’t serve everyday New Mexicans,” he said on his website. “I’m running to bring practical solutions, honest accountability, and a renewed focus on the public interest.”

A Georgia native, Ellison has lived in New Mexico for 20 years and currently lives in the Albuquerque area with his wife and two children.

Ellison is aiming to get 5,000 signatures by Feb. 2, to appear on the primary ballot with at least three other Republicans who have announced their candidacy.

Ultra Health CEO Duke Rodriguez announced his campaign in December and recently confirmed to KOB 4 that he received enough signatures to appear on the primary ballot. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and New Mexico State Sen. Steve Lanier are also running.

Three Democrats are running – Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima.

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New Mexico

Independent governor’s race hopeful sues over New Mexico’s ballot process

Published

16 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Independent governor’s race hopeful sues over New Mexico’s ballot process

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New Mexico

New Mexico Lobo players and coaches make moves after successful season, AD departure

Published

1 day ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

New Mexico Lobo players and coaches make moves after successful season, AD departure

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A successful University of New Mexico Lobo athletics season and the athletics director’s departure has culminated in players and coaches making moves.

The moves follow a successful 2025 season and the departure of athletics director Fernando Lovo.

Running back coach John Johnson, special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato and wide receiver coach Colin Lockett are all leaving the Lobos after just one season. Johnson is headed to Iowa State while Da Prato is expected to join Minnesota and Lockett is headed to UCLA, all for the same jobs.

Johnson’s Lobo running backs ran for more than 1,400 yards. Da Prato’s special teams finished top-five nationally in kickoff returns.

Running back D.J. McKinney entered the portal, he confirmed on social media the day the portal officially opened. McKinney rushed for 464 yards and seven touchdowns with the Lobos.

Two players who received all-Mountain West Conference recognition also made moves. All-Mountain West tight-end Dorian Thomas, who caught for touchdowns for the Lobos, entered the portal. Meanwhile, all-Mountain West honorable mention punter Daniel Hughes is set to leave.

Others set to leave include:

Cole Welliver, backup quarterback who played in one game
Landon Williams, defensive end who graduated from La Cueva High School
Randolph Kpai, senior linebacker who is at the end of his college football career without a waiver

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